Of course, Irma Dragila knew her daughter, once a goat roper in high school rodeos, was tough. She had to be Saturday night to win a scintillating competition in the first women's pole vault at an outdoor World Track and Field Championships.

Dragila stayed alive in the event by clearing one height on her last of three chances. She took a wearying 18 vaults. The winning jump, at 15 feet 1 inch, matched the world record set by Australia's Emma George earlier this year.

That gave Dragila, 28, of Pocatello, Idaho, a historic double. She had won the first vault ever at a world meet, the 1997 indoor championships.

"It's quite a feat," she said.

Those who run international track and field are giving first-place prize money of $60,000 to every event except the women's pole vault and hammer throw, which make their debuts at the Olympics next year.

"Going into 2000, I sure hope we don't get half a medal," Dragila said.

Dragila had won $100,000 in an unofficial beach vault competition this summer in California, but Saturday's victory is more valuable as a step on the road toward women's equality in sports. The quality of the performances--seven women cleared 14-5 1/4 and Anzhela Balakhonova of Ukraine was second at 14-11--should make it evident that the women's vault is a championship-caliber event.

"It's neat to say, `Hey, watch us go up,' " Dragila said. "It's nice to be a pioneer and just go with it."